Of course teams talk about their passion and how they would improve their teams. You think this is bad? Try living in Philly. DD
yeah i'm sure the rockets are going to be the first team ever to fire The Coach of the Year (possibly coach of the year).....
Well everyone can relax now....Kirk got back on the court yesteday for 13 meaninful mintues in which he hustled ...hit a 3 and another bucket.....I guess he is out of the doghouse so we can put this thread to rest.....I started it, now i'm ending it....Go Snyder ...Go Rockets
That's true but you're shading things here. The difference is minimal, and that's only one objective indicator Roland Rating Wells -0.3 Snyder -1.2 Head -2.2 PER Snyder 14.7 Head 14.4 Wells 11.0 PER diff Snyder +1.8 Wells +1.7 Head -2.2 Net on/off Wells -5.1 Head -6.8 Snyder -8.7 These numbers are kind of a dead heat. I do know in the Rockets half court offense which of these three guys I'd want on the floor at the end of a game if Yao and Tracy are in (not to mention the only one who's been healthy all year long and knows the system from last year). It's the guy who can shoot the ball. (and this is backed up - Head's "Clutch" play numbers blow Snyder and Wells literally out of the water).
I agree the numbers are not a big difference. That is why I included the last clause in my previus post... So by a quick and crude objective assessment you can at least conclude the difference is probably relatively marginal in on the court impact between say Bonzi, Head, Snyder and Hayes. However the difference is minutes distributed is completely out of proportion to the difference in actual play. One could understand how Snyder and Wells get frustrated when they think they can help the team win (with no data to suggest they couldn't) and don't get much chance. The reason they don't play (JVG isn't comfortable with them, they are the dog house, they don't practice well, they don't play up to potential in JVG estimation, whatever, I don't know) has nothing to do with how well they have played when given the chance. Now this isn't true for JL3, Novak, VSpan--you don't hear me claiming they need more regular PT. I just don't like decent NBA players sitting their on the bench when a lot of other guys are IMO at maxed capacity with 1/3rd of the season left.
I like looking at stats as much as anyone, but I don't agree quite with this. You can't compare stats of players who play very different roles on the team and allot playing time based on that.
You're purposefully ignoring that both have been injured for over half the season. And durvasa is right - they play different roles in the offense and different positions on the court.
I'm coming very late to this thread and haven't read through it so I apologize if these points have been made. A good manager isn't a dictator but someone who knows how to keep his employees happy and to maximize their skills. Obviously you can't have one person putting their own interest ahead of the teams but you have to recognize that people who feel they are able to maximize their skills are also going to produce the most. The problem I see with JVG is that he demands that his players conform to his system fully rather than considering how best to get the most out of his players.
This isn't NBA Live or Fantasy basketball. These are real human beings. A good basketball team transcends stats. Just because Swift averages such and such during one team doesn't mean he'd do the same under a certain system. The fact of the matter is that Swift was poorly made for us and Chuck Hayes is a better fit. It's about fit and chemistry and players accepting their roles. If they don't fit their roles, they're out unless they're vastly superior talents. Actually, if you think about it, aside from the elite players, every player are in a very similar talent level. Chuck Hayes vs. Stromile Swift? Luther compared to Kirk Snyder? If Bonzi didn't fit should we adjust everything to accustom to him? No, that would be dumb. We'd say goodbye and replace him with another Bonzi type that gets it. What's so different between Jim Jackson/David Wesley/Bonzi? Not anything we'd cry over. Everyone aside from the big two is completely replaceable with some other guy in the NBA. If that means putting guys like Bowen in over more talented guys Swift because Bowen gets it and Swift doesn't ( slight number differences be damned ), then so be it. It's part of what I like about the Rockets management. We take no bull.
I am not ignoring their injuries. But I am pointing out Snyder and Wells have done well, or at least OK, when given the chance. Yet both are at their lowest levels of MPG in their careers--which is calculated only on games they get in, not in games they were healthy enough to play. Meanwhile Battier and Alston are playing an enourmous 37MPG for role players on playoff teams. Both Battier and Alston are playing near their career highs in minutes. Also, the positions are somewhat flexible. Wells and Snyder can certainly play Shane's primary position (SF). Head can also play more 1 to bring down Alston's minutes. I am not saying there won't be drop off. Heck, there is major drop off when Manu or TD step off the court--far more than the case above. Yet Pop rests them more than SB and RA. Why? You want your best players healthy and fresh for the playoffs AND figure out which guys on the tail in of your roster can play. I am concerned Tmac, Alston, Battier, Howard & Deke won't be fresh and healthy come playoff time AND we will have no idea what to expect from Bonzi or Snyder and their roles won't be clear. Time will tell.
"JVG is in more dire need of a blow job than any white man in history" 15 points for anyone who can figure out that quote. DD
Not well enough to supplant McGrady. And not nearly well enough in the areas that Head excels in. But it calculates games where they shut it down or were trying to return from layoffs and injuries - and not to mention that their best position is SG which happens to be manned by McGrady. I don't belive either of them ever played in a lineup behind a player like that. By the numbers they don't really hold a candle to Battier at SF either. Alston plays a position that neither of them is capable of playing. I agree he's playing too much but it's really irrelevant. As I said before, by the numbers Battier is a vastly superior choice at SF. Not very well and not nearly as well as they play SG. Not very well and not nearly as well as he plays SG I'm not worried about SHane or Rafer breaking down physically for the playoffs. But anyway Tim Duncan plays 34.4 minutes a night. Tracy McGrady plays 35.7...that is 50th in the league. You honestly think this is a substantial difference? (ginobili is a different story as he's only started 36 games this year and has played limited minutes this year.) McGrady's minues are pretty limited in the grand scheme of things. If you recall, franchise type players like Iverson, Anthony, James etc regularly go over 40 minutes per game - many of them in much faster paced offenses. Do you recall Hakeem's two highest minute seasons? I bet you do. They are 1993-94 and 1994-1995. Given that Howard just lost his starting job and that Mutumbo's minutes have dropped off a cliff I don't know why you're worried about that. Bonzi gets injured every five seconds. But anyway you act like he hasn't seen the floor this year. That's simply not true. When healthy, he plays. As for Snyder, the guy takes Bonzi's spot when he's out, like he did last night. Are you honestly saying that an extra 2 minutes last night would have given you an idea of what to expect from him more? I find that doubtful.
Or maybe Snyder/Bonzi don't play as much because we need players who can hit 3's well (Though Snyder had potential and I do like him playing). I admit that Luther is a terrible decision maker/undersized defender, but when Yao or Mac get doubled, there is a good chance that he can hit the open 3, even in pressure situations. If Bonzi would have come into the season in decent shape and avoided his myriad of injuries/excuses, maybe he would be playing more. Head has a role on this team and he does well with it (hitting the three's).
A great thing about Tmac and Battier is their versatility. By no choice we have seen it with Tmac taking PG responsibilities when Alston isn't in. And though I might agree SF is ideal for Battier and SG ideal for Wells/Snyder, I don't think there effectiveness in different spots is as drastically altered as you imply (in fact Battier's best PER is at PF and Tmacs is at SF). If you look for instance at these guys PERs in different spots the last 2 years they are not that different (in fact just last year wasn't conventional wisdom that TM had to play the SF to be optimally used). I would still like to see the occsional Yao (C)-SB(PF)-TMac(SF/PG)-KS/BW(SG)-RA/LH(PG) combinations--I think it might be out best shot versus Dallas and Phx. The difference is franchise players are still well above average players when dog tired. Role players typically are not. If their legs tire and outside shots dim a little, they are offensive drags. Like I said the 3 leading coaches in the game clearly do their rotations differently at this point in the season (Pop keeps everyone, stars included, much lower, the rest keep their role players down and use more bench). Maybe JVG is using his rotations optimially, I hope so, but I have concerns. I am saying when we are up by 20 in the 4th no starter should see the floor. Snyder should be gobbling those minutes. I also believe when Battier or Head or Alston are really struggling, that is the time to try something different, the energy of Snyder or the match-up difficulty Bonzi brings. Phil J in particular I remember was always looking for subbing role players and finding some energy on the bench. And how many games do we die by the 3. Bonzi can score in the low post and Snyder can cut, and both can bring more defensive size. I am not saying Head isn't a valuable option and the 3 ball isn't critical, but sometimes you can get points other ways and need other things. We are deep in the wing spots with legit NBA players offering different usefull skills. I hope we use it. Finally, can anyone defend that in the 3 recent blowouts (20 point leads in the 4th) wins Battier and Alston played 40, 41 & 39 minutes. Why?
OK - I'm coming to this thread late, and it is late... 1:15 AM and I'm finally cooled off a bit after watching JVG get outcoached by a guy who wasn't even in the gym for the 2nd half of the game!! I want to bring another perspective to support the JVG critics of which I'm one (I think the guy is far too stubborn/rigid and WAY too egotistical) despite giving him significant credit for being a good defensive minded coach, and ONE of the MAIN reasons the ROX have had success so far this season!! JVG is a good friend of Bill Parcells. I mention this because I am a HUGE Dallas Cowboys fan . (A team that's been to the Superbowl more than any team in NFL history [8], and is tied for the most SB wins [5]) . Because Parcells had been a winner everywhere he went, I was excited about this arrival and what he the progress he "seemed" to be making. However, his reputation for being incredibly difficult on his players and for having a "my way or the highway" attitude was a concern. Now that he's gone, and because the Cowboys never made it out of the 1st round with Bill as Coach I know why. There were constant rumors that Bill Parcells refused to allow Assistants or even Key Players to make adjustments they felt would improve their play or the team's performance. This was especially true when the Cowboys lost 4 of 5 games at the end of last season, even though they made the playoffs as a Wild card. I say all this because there are SO MANY similarities between these GOOD friends, and it speaks volumes that JVG is on record as admiring Parcells style. At least the Tuna has WON a couple of Superbowls.... JVG has yet to make it to the big dance. For those who cannot stomach ANY criticism of Van Grumpy, this is the part you'll want to either ignore or flame.... I'm with those who say JVG SHOULD AT LEAST BE MORE FLEXIBLE... How many of you would like to have had a Boki, or a Jim Jackson (or even a Kirk Snyder) during the ill-fated series with Dallas two years ago? Why, when we have a chance to gain much needed confidence, build momentum, and make a statement to the rest of the league by beating the Suns on their home court, (not to mention the fact that we're on day 2 of a back to back) would you choose THAT DAY to bench THE EXACT KIND OF PLAYER WE NEEDED MOST ON DEFENSE? Would he have been the difference against Barbosa's 32 points? Probably not, but his presence might have forced a different dynamic for our team and theirs.... Only an assh*le with an ego as big as Yao would need to "prove" to himself and the other players that "he's IN CHARGE" and by doing so, screw the team in the process!! Unless someone has specifics on Snyder's alleged offense, I refuse to buy into this crap about Jeff being so pragmatic. Jeff has a real Napolean complex if a player can't express ANY dissatisfaction with his status and playing time. And Bill's interview with a FOREIGN Media Source is exactly the kind of thing that a coach who's secure in his abilities is willing to overlook, not punish!!! I totally agree with DD about Jeff's unwillingness to put players in positions to succeed using their strengths. Jeff is a rigid authoritarian, but only with those who don't come with a pedigree or built in humility (ala Yao, Deke and Shane). Hayes just "happens" to be a lunch pail player, who, by playing close to the basket get's some easy buckets and is the recipient of great passes from TMAC. If either Snyder, JL III, Bonzi, Novak or even Kill Bill got the kind of minutes that Hayes is getting, in the areas they are most comfortable playing (as Hayes does) I guarantee that each would become a better player than they are currently able to demonstrate... Now before you go all Black and White on me, let me be clear that I'm talking about the GREY area where I said they would all improve, and become BETTER than they are now. I did NOT SAY that any of them should replace any of our starters, or become the 6th man.... but making them better, and more confident so THEY CAN BE USED WHEN NEEDED is the kind of thing a GREAT coach would do. But for JVG to eliminate even the option of using them as a tribute to his ego, or to some theory that doing so would threaten his precious chemistry, or that using ONLY EIGHT players and citing chemistry or "discipline" as the reason is nothing more than Bull****! If we fail to make it out of the 1st round, with a healthy Juwann, and with improved players on the bench in Deke and Luther, Kirk and Bonzi (if JVG isn't too threatened to use them with the season on the line), then I hope all the JVG apologists on this Board will finally admit that our team will NOT make it him as it's leader. And for those who think I must hate the ROX, I have similar feelings about George Bush, so I must be a traitor also, right? The ROX deserve to be coached by someone who's capable of more than just tunnel vision!!!
JVG coached in the finals (once) Look, I defend the guy all the time here...but he definitely has his flaws. But he's a good coach, and I find it hilarious that when our superstars shoot 1-9 and 8-28 and we get run out of the gym by the most athletic team in the league, you guys only blame the coach. How about the players?
Again that is not the full story. Sure, Shane Battier's PER is fractionally better at PF, but his ability to defend PF's is very limtied, so his NET PER slides dramatically. Not only that, but that means taking Hayes out - which is a shame because the Hayes - Yao player pairs numbers show they give each other a huge boost as has been well documented, due in no small part to the inherent weakness of Battier-Yao as a rebounding duo.
